Saturday, July 27, 2013

Predictions: Crew (A) v Toronto

The Columbus Crew travel to BMO Field to take on Toronto FC today. Afternoon kickoff at 2:00 PM EST. 11:00 AM out west.

GAME NOTES
CLB: Columbus won at BMO earlier this year 1:0
CLB: Lineup changes, different from previous 2 games
CLB: Only 1 win last 6 on road (Loss last 3)
TFC: No wins at BMO in over a year.
TFC: 3 Draws last 6 at home (Draw last 2)
TFC: Koevermans, Earnshaw Questionable

PREDICTIONS
In no particular order. For order of most accurate check HERE.

1. MLSSOCCER.COM ... TFC
Somewhat surprisingly the panel at the league base site likes Toronto today. 4 of the 6 have them down in the WIN column and the other two? Draw.

2. WIN DRAW WIN ... CREW
The 'Your Votes' has Columbus with 45% of the vote and lists a Medium Stake on a 0:1 Away side win.

3. WVHOOLIGAN.COM ... DRAW
"Isn’t this a rivalry game? Sure why not." Drew Epperley stated last week the Crew season was effectively over. He likes this one to end on even terms, however. 1:1 at BMO.

4. BET365 ... TFC
Toronto at 29/20, Draw 21/10 and Crew 2/1. We are on the back half of the season now so we should start seeing bad home sides drifting away from even.

5. GOAL.COM ... CREW
Kieth Hickey got the call today to do the one line summary, "With TFC struggling yet again this year, Columbus looks to seal yet another Trillium Cup victory." Few votes on the predictor but what is there has this one even.

6. COLUMBUS DISPATCH ... LEAN CREW
Columbus beat writer Adam Jardy calls this one "a tricky challenge for the Crew." Jardy isn't shying away from approaching things honestly at this point in the season by saying the team's playoff hopes are 'flickering' and in the headline today, describing the team as 'sputtering'.

7. CURRENT TABLE ... CREW

8. HOME TEAM ... TFC

MY THOUGHTS
The last few teams to go to BMO Field have gone there 'not to lose'. Nobody wants to lose there as Toronto have been terrible. It sucks for TFC fans, really.

I think the Crew are looking for a Draw as well. Head Coach Robert Warzycha said as much yesterday in an interview ("...draw not worst result"). I think that comes from some fear of being THAT team that lost to TFC. The Crew can't worry about that though.

Columbus / Toronto games are often dull affairs. This one being in the early afternoon doesn't help things (those matinee games are often boring, no matter who is playing).

I wouldn't expect this one to be any different but there is always hope for the spectacular. Even when you have a third to last place team playing second to last.

Looks like great soccer weather up there today. Cool in the low 70s with a slight chance of ran. Perfect for the players. Enjoy the match.